Bandwidth is the amount of data transfer that you are allowed to have for a hosting package i.e. Let's say you have a web page that is 48KB in size, now each time a user opens your site and goes to that page S/he downloads 48 KB of information on to their computer. If a 100 users view that page one time each then there has been a total of 4800 KB of data transferred from the server on which your files are stored for the computer of users.
Size of web Page: 48 KB
Number of users who viewed the web page: 100
Total amounts of data transferred: 48KB * 100 = 4800 KB
Bandwidth is the term that is used to denote the amount of data that has been transferred from your web space.
The amount of bandwidth that you require while choosing a host depends on two factors:
> The size of your site.
> The popularity of your site.
If your site is not very huge and you do not have any audio/video downloads and it's not very popular i.e. not a lot of people visit your site then you do not really require a lot of bandwidth, on a average a web site uses up only 500 MB of bandwidth per month. Or if your site is small but extremely popular then you might have to go for a web hosting package that offers high bandwidth.
On the other hand if your web site is huge, providing audio/video downloads, as well as being very popular then you would certainly require a huge amount of bandwidth. Let's say you have a video file that is 150 MB in size and in a single day a 100 visitors download the file. This means that 15 GB of bandwidth will have been used. If you multiply that by 30 days for the month it comes to 450 GB.
The unlimited bandwidth controversy
For some time now a lot of hosting companies are supposedly providing "unlimited bandwidth" for their web hosting packages.
It's absolutely true, you can have unlimited bandwidth. However, you will need an unlimited amount of money by your side! Jokes apart, if you ever come across such a host it would be best to turn around and run back the way you came from.
Just think, if you can get unlimited bandwidth for $25-30 a month then why aren't big companies like Sun, Microsoft etc. not hosted there? In fact, why isn't everyone hosted there? For that matter, if unlimited is a standard feature then why don't all the hosts offer it? Is it because it is expensive and requires better hardware? No, it's because some hosts are honest and don't give in to such gimmicks.
Statistically speaking, a T1 Internet connection (huge broadband) equals approximately 500GB per month and costs around $1200 per month. So how can it be possible to get the same or unlimited for $30 a month?
There are a lot of ways you can be duped by these ?unlimited? hosts; here are just a few of them:
The secret of ?unlimited? is actually buried in the Terms of Service by the host. Do not be surprised to find that unlimited = 15 GB.
The host may restrict the sort of files that you can host on their server. Generally image galleries and audio/video files attract a lot more downloads thereby resulting in higher bandwidth consumption. So if there are no files of this type, your site won't really require a lot of bandwidth.
Some newly opened hosts use it as a scam. They take your money and after a few months when their server starts to become slow or reaches its limit, they run? with your money!
Some hosts outline in their Terms of Service that you can have unlimited bandwidth as long as you qualify for it. I.e. Your site must use less then, let's say 2 GB of bandwidth in order to qualify for the unlimited bandwidth feature. As soon as your site goes over that limit they either start charging you for it or cut off your downloads altogether.
In life it's a universal truth that you always get what you pay for, and it's no different for web hosting.
If a host is using a cheap advertising gimmick like ?unlimited? bandwidth they maybe lying about a few other things too. Their ?dedicated? support team could be a single person (the holster itself in most cases) sitting in front of a computer and taking your calls.
Do you really want unlimited bandwidth hosting from hosts that have very limited resources at their disposal? Or, do you want to go for a host that has spent thousands of dollars on setting up a good network infrastructure, servers, and a highly qualified and dedicated support team? The choice ultimately is yours and yours alone.
Unlimited Bandwidth Web Hosting
The unlimited web hosting that does not cost in rental space may cost in other areas. This is not necessarily a negative factor, but it does indicate that seekers should be completely informed about where the costs lie or what they will be expected to offer the server in return for the service.
While there are plenty of hosting companies that do offer computer space and quality services at no charge, there are also companies that target those looking for freebies by taking advantage in a variety of ways. And, existing on a server that hosts other free websites can also put the computer neighborhood at risk. When served by a free hosting service, quality control may be minimum, meaning neighbors that may spam, slow up loading times, or post inappropriate materials. It will be crucial to investigate, thoroughly, every web host under consideration.
Newcomers who are looking for inexpensive ways to get their websites posted online will need to understand the basics of web hosting. Getting the information about how the entire process works will help in making wise decisions about what route to choose when looking for unlimited web hosting.
A web server is actually a computer that can receive petitions from the Internet to send and display files to the computer requesting information. When a site is hosted on a server, the files are stored on the server's space. Most servers that offer unlimited web hosting will have many clients occupying one server computer and this is called shared hosting.
Dedicated servers are computers that are committed to one specific client. With a shared service, clients share addresses and this can impact certain functions. Smaller sites generally utilize the shared server options, but knowing who the neighbors are will be important.
There are many different reasons for using unlimited web hosting and utilizing services offered at no charge might be very appropriate and even beneficial in the right circumstances. Small companies just launching a page or site might find the perfect opportunity to get a "feel" for Internet protocol and business.
Other site owners may wish to post their information pages on several different servers, experimenting with traffic demographics. Utilizing the services offered at no charge would definitely be beneficial in these cases.
The Internet has become a major medium for not only businesses, but for family and friends communications, as well. Now, photographs are not sent via the mail, or even shared at family gatherings. By posting pictures online, anyone can enjoy them at anytime, and even print off copies of their own! Simple family sites are perfect clients for the unlimited web hosting services that do not charge a rental fee.
Unlimited is not necessarily best in every situation, however. Maintaining a server computer costs money, and there has to be a way for these host services to pay for their own time and expenses.
This means that there will generally be a "catch" involved with using unlimited web hosting services. The server may require that clients display advertising on their sites. Some agencies will not charge for rental space, but will charge for the use of a domain name, or website address. And, services are generally limited in technical support or speed when there is no charge. It will be important to carefully weigh all of these factors when selecting a server. Being hosted will most likely cost something, either in page space for advertising or in utilizing other services offered by the server.
When looking for a server at free or discounted pricing, be sure and ask each server questions about who you will be sharing computer space with. It will be important to reside in a cyberspace location with reputable businesses.
Site owners will never want to put their browsers at risk by exposing them to the inappropriate content of a neighbor's pages. It will be a good idea to pray before choosing a host service. Ask God for His direction in finding a server that will support the integrity that brings glory to Him. "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Research and investigations will equip seekers with the information needed to make the right choices. There are websites online that give quick reviews of some of the servers offering unlimited web hosting, making it easy to investigate several choices at once.
It may also be a good idea to contact clients that are currently utilizing any server under consideration. Asking the clients about speed, up time, and technical support will give you a good idea of how the company serves their customers. And remember, in most cases, you get what you pay for.
Both Kiran Sharma & Rod Hewitt are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kiran Sharma has sinced written about articles on various topics from The Internet, Internet Marketing and Personal Desktop. Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to Bandwidth, do please browse for more information at our websites.www.infozabout.comwww.bandwidth.infozabout.com. Kiran Sharma's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Rod Hewitt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Flirting Tips and About Web Hosting. Rod hewitt is 27 years old and lives in Portland, Oregon, webprogrammer and web esigner, owner of Brazilian web hosting company.. Rod Hewitt's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.
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